Marty Owen presents his case to the McCracken County Board of Education June 27, 2013. He was one of three people who spoke against Lamar Construction, a sub-contractor hired by A&K Construction, the general contractor for the new McCracken Co. High School.PHOTO:Levi Holsapple

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UPDATE: Is The New McCracken High School Safe?

By Levi Holsapple

PADUCAH, KY - NOTE: This updated story includes response from McCracken Co. School Board

A group of individuals made a presentation to the McCracken County School Board at their meeting Thursday night. After hearing their argument, one might assume that the building could be unsafe. But it may not be the entire story.

Marty Owen was first, and presented numerous documents and evidence against Lamar Construction concerning an iron structure collapse that took place at the new McCracken County High School in May 2011. Owen is a compliance officer with Kentucky Fair Contracting, and monitors construction projects across western Kentucky. His main concern is the safety of the incoming students, and recovering tax payers dollars spent on an insurance policy bought by the board to cover an estimated $478,000 in damage.

The 2011 collapse was initially blamed on a severe storm with high winds, but photos taken right after the collapse show many of the nearby lightweight portable restrooms still standing. A weather history report shows that the wind never exceeded 30 miles per hour when the collapse occurred. Owen provided photos showing what he says are missing welds and bolts, and improper cable bracing on the collapsed structure.

Owen says the work Lamar has performed is not to code, and said he has caught them violating several codes across Kentucky, for which they have been fined numerous times. He encouraged the board to recover expenses incurred, and to deeply examine future subcontractors doing work for the school system.

A second member of the group, Will Randolph, a former employee of Lamar, told the board that most of his training consisted of worksheets that had answers provided on the back. He informed the board about the Worker's Freedom Coalition, which he started to get the company to step up its safety procedures and training programs.

A third presenting member, Dave Baker, who represents Cincinnati Inter-Faith Workers Justice, said the company has had four collapses in the past three years. He shared a Paducah Sun photo showing a Lamar employee welding at the McCracken County site after the collapse. He said no certifications could be found documenting the worker was ever trained or qualified to perform the work. He provided a packet to the board, which included stories of forged documents and uncertified welders working on projects when inspectors weren't around.

The McCracken County Board of Education asked several questions to the group, and stressed that the students' safety is the board's primary concern. Regarding the allegations of the group, a couple of board members discussed contacting A&K Construction about their requirements for subcontractors. One member suggested that if there is doubt about Lamar's reputation, a structural engineer should check the school for structural stability and safety. He added that if needed, the school board should try to recover costs incurred due to the collapse, such as insurance deductibles.

The school board issued a statement Friday, saying they have full confidence in their architect, contractor, and engineering team that designed, built, and inspected the new school, which they assure is up to code. They included a letter from Bacon, Farmer, and Workman, the engineering firm that has inspected the building throughout construction. That letter states, "the buildings at the new high school campus have been designed and constructed to meet or exceed the requirements of the Kentucky and International Building Codes." It continues, "We do not take our responsibilities lightly in this regard, and have closely watched this project from the start."

The school board's statement also said, "McCracken County Public Schools does not accept occupancy of a facility until all inspections are completed, documented, and approved in compliance of all applicable building codes."

Lamar Construction is a contractor involved in structural steel erection, pre-engineered metal building erection, pre-cast concrete erection and maintenance services. Lamar is headquartered in Michigan, with offices in Kentucky and Colorado. The company regularly works on projects across the United States, but its primarily focus is in the midwest.

I'm noting that this statement is somewhat inaccurate: "McCracken County Public Schools does not accept occupancy of a facility until all inspections are completed, documented, and approved in compliance of all applicable building codes." The School Board does not have authority to accept occupancy. Building inspectors do. If the building is unsuitable for occupancy, the most that the School Board can do is spend more money to bring it into compliance. Does the School Board also think that they are the building inspector?

Actually it appeared that those at the meeting provided quite a bit of documentation to back up their claims of questionable construction. Whether or not the documentation can be effectively disputed is another question. So far I haven't seen that it has been.

It looks like if the people who presented documentation the other night to the......errrrr.......school board, had not done their investigations, no one, nowhere would have asked anything. Certainly not the "right on top of things" and it appears, not the news media.

Regarding coverage of the collapse… as I recall, it was mentioned in the news, but in a very cursory way. I also recall that the construction area was initially viewable via webcam. The camera WAS still working after the collapse, and until the cleanup started. Then the link went dead until the cleanup was complete and new (?) steel erected. Imagine that.

I see now that the school is selling speciality seating for the gym that has questionable construction. This board will sell any part of this school to the highest bidder,except construction. Im sure you won't be able to go to the bathroom without being subjected to some sort of advertising,as the bathroom stall will be named after a business. Just remember that we do have other options in sending our children to other schools. Waldrop and the board will listen but their mind is already made up on most all issues such as this. If there was to be a collaspe it would probably occur after this group is gone and it will be a new group who will have to deal with the fallout.

I don't remember any public questioning but it sure looked strange to me. I have no education that would give me a clue about the reason for the collapse but a little observation of wind resistance made me wonder. I could figure the damage if it was a single solid wll structure but an open steel structure made me wonder. j.c.: I do hope the children will build their own legacy, much better than us building a memorial.

Maybe I missed something, but did local news media ask any questions when the imaginary "wind storm" "blew over" the steel structure while the plastic potties withstood the breeze? I don't think the mystery winds blew around any Styrofoam coffer cups lying around the job site. Hey, they may have asked plenty of questions, I just don't remember it happening. Does anybody?

Some seem to be missing the bigger picture. Every student in all grades will benefit. You know the old highs schools' are not being abandoned right? The over crowding was wearing out our old schools. Our kids still get 8 years at our old schools, but now the last 4 in a great facility designed for learning.
Most of the kids I have talked to are ready to build their own legacy which apparently does not sit well with some.

If the school board told the Department of Education that nobody objected to this school being built then that was a bold faced lie. Only a handful in the community from all the 3 school districts wanted this school built. If this had been put to a vote, it would have lost by a landslide. If the school board would lie about one thing, then another thing, how are we supposed to trust them when they say the school is structurally safe for our children to attend? I agree with the statement several posts below. Let's keep our 3 high schools and let them move into the building they wanted so much.

P.A.: I guess that means that we should never use the words honesty and integrity in a sentence with McCracken County school board member or superintendent unless accompanied by a negative. Am I the only one having this small internal chuckle while imagining how their day is going?

Let’s not forget how the Kentucky Department of Education stated that they approved our new school, after being assured by our school board that NO ONE objected to it. And how our new Superintendent went on the news and said that her office had received NO complaints about the new school or its location. Obviously we all just imagined that we complained or objected. Obviously you are all just imagining me right now.

Maybe we should have questioned it more in 2011 when the wind messed up an open steel structure. I know my lattice fence can withstand a pretty high wind and all that is just a couple of wood posts with rather thin open wood in between. It only comes down when the vines grow up on it becomes a sort of solid structure. I thought steel was supposed to be strong. If that open wall couldn't withstand the wind then what should we expect when it becomes a wind resistant closed structure.

eddy a.: in answer to your question, no, I can't see any positives to this new school. How can someone "lie", professional agitator or not, about 4 collapses in the past 3 years? Either the places this company built had collapses or they didnt. eddy a is right, pure greed went into this. Only a handful of people were in favor of it. The vast majority weren't, but Waldrop or anyone on the school board didn't listen, nor did they care.

These speakers are professional agitators. The only people that give them any credibility are people that are pre-disposed to believe anything bad about the new school. It is no different than someone that takes Rush Limbaugh's criticism of President Obama as gospel even if there is no corroborating evidence. They are not automatically wrong in their presentation but it must be taken with a grain of salt.

Bobby M. No axes to grind we just want a safe school for the children.But could the new school become a financial nightmare for McCracken co taxpayers?Is the whole Idea behind this school is not children, its pure greed!!!Seriously,is there anyone that can see a positive in this new school?A&K Constructions total bid was $55,673000.00 dollars and Nancy Waldrop said that this is a great night for McCracken co when so many people in McCracken co did not want this new high school.

Edward nailed it and is either ignored or mocked. These people are professional agitators, it is their job to cause trouble whether it is warranted or not. Let's hear from people that are not paid to grind axes for someone else.

Come election time of board members remember this. Waldrops expertise at matters of construction at work. I'm sure Parker is in a corner on the phone somewhere trying to drum up support and manipulate people to be on his side. Sickening!!!

If one was trying to label this day in history would she call it the day of the beginning of the mass exodus? The day the schoolboard members disappeared from the face of the earth? The day the school administration's phones went down from the excessive calls? The day we found out that our kids are almost as safe as the kids in any third world country? The day of the last attempted mass hanging in Kentucky? Or better yet the day of the closing of the white elephant and re-opening of the local schools.

One also has to look at the General Contractor and Engineers. Welding certs and other certs/training documentation should have been provided for review and approval during the procurement process. If Lamar had that many mishaps, their EMR rating should be well above the general requirement to bid a job like this. Shame on them for awarding a contract to a apparently unqualified subcontractor.

This story just confirms yet another issue the community tried to bring to light before this idiotic decision was even finalized. Yes, the board made this decision for the "glory" of saying they did it and yes, taxpayer money has been wasted. Now, not only does the community (parents, grandparents, students) have to be worried about the education, location, extra-curricular opportunities, and traffic safety of the students, and others traveling on that road, but now they have to be worried about the roof caving in on the kids. Frankly, I can't understand why anyone would be surprised something like this has come to light. It has been said many times, this board cares only about prestige and lining their own pockets. They have made a horrible decision that our kids are going to pay for in the long run. Unfortunately, we are powerless to do anything about it.

It doesn't matter....the board memebers have to have a legacy as the ones who built a new school!! Get the cheap contractor, don't plan it out, just do it, push it through. Don't worry about the location, the safety of the students,build it even though nobody wants it, just get it done so they can have the glory!!!

Or the big white elephant on the loop. Just think, winds of 60 MPH can blow this new "state of the art" school to the ground. CRAP, my tax dollars pay for this and I have never had kids. I don't want kids and never have but I am forced to pay. Everyone look at your monthly bills. See see school tax on then? What about your yearly tax bill? Sure school tax. If you don't use it, no tax. I think will start a county protest and hopt it goes nation wide. You have kids in school they tax the hell our of you. No kids in the school system, you pay no tax. Fair isn't it..